chapman



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. J. CHAPMAN.

VELOGIPEDE.

No. 391,882. Patented Oct. 30. 1888.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR:

f emvael By luls Attornog,

N, PETERS, Phehrmhugnpher, Wash] nnnnnnn c,

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. J. CHAPMAN.

VELOGIPEDE. I No. 391,882. Patented Oct. 30, 1.888.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR. Mflfih WJ W- B hisALtorne UNTTnn STATES PATENTUnmet),

GEORGE JAMES CHAPMAN, OF TOTTENHAM, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX,

ENGLAND.

VELOCIPEIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,882, dated October30, 1888.

Application filed August 18, 1888. Serial No. 283,150. (No model.)Patented in England December 30, 1887, No. 17,928.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, Gnonen J AMES CHAP- MAN, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at London, in the county of Middlesex,

I England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVelocipedes, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No.17,928, hearing date December 30, 1887,) of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in velocipedes in which thesteering wheel or wheels are placed in front of the driving-wheel orwheels, and the object of my improvement is to control the action of thesteering wheel or wheels, and. consequently the steering or guiding ofthe machine, either wholly or partially without the use of the hands. Iattain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1, Sheet No. 1, is a view of a reardrivingbicycle in side elevation, embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, Sheet No.2-, is aview in side elevation ofa modification thereof.

Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters ofreference.

The driving-wheel A is mountedin a frame, B, of the usual type,terminating at its forward extremityin a neck or socket, 1), adapted toengage with the head or steering post 0 of the fork G, carrying thesteering-wheel 1). The frame B carries the pedal-crank axle, which isfitted in the usual manner, and is connected to the drivingwheel A oraxle thcreofby chain or any other gearing. On the forward part of theframe Bis pivoted on a pin or centers, 1), a rocking lever, E, the rearend of which is adapted to receive a pillar, e, carrying a saddle andspring of the usual type. The forward end of the rocking lever E isconnected to an arm or lever, c, fixed to or forming part of the head orpost 0 of the fork O, carrying the steering-wheel D, by a rotating andsliding block and slot, or by toothed quadrants, or by any othersuitable device, so that the motion of the arm or lever 0 produces areversed motion at the rear end of the rocking lever E carrying thesaddle. The lengths of the arms of the rocking lever E and of the arm orlever 0 may be varied as desired to give the best results in steering.

The handle-bar F may either be mounted on the extension of the head orpost a, as illustrated by Fig. 1, whereby it may be used to assist incontrolling the steeringwheel, or on the frame B, as illustrated by Fig.2.

Those parts to which no special reference has been made and which arenot illustrated in the accompanying drawings present no novel featuresand may be of the usual type and construction.

It will be seen that by the use of the rocking lever or its equivalentand the secondary socket or centers the saddle and front steering-wheelare caused to deflect in unison toward the same side, thus giving therider perfect control over the steering of the machine without the useof his hands, and insuring his safety by causing the center of gravityto move toward the center of the path of motion of the machine when itis running in a curved path.

Although my invention is hereinbefore described and shown as applied toa rear-driving bicycle, it is also applicable to all other types ofcycles driven by the rear wheel or wheels and steered by the front wheelor wheels.

I am aware that prior to my invention the saddles of velocipedes havebeen. mounted so as to indirectly control the steering wheel or wheelsof veloeipedes. I therefore do not claim such an arrangement broadly.

\Vhat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. In avelocipede, the combination, with the steering Wheel or wheelsmounted in a fork or its equivalent pivoted to the main frame of themachine by the usual head or socket, of a rocking lever pivoted in therear of the head or socket on which the steering wheel or wheels turn,and carrying the seat or saddle at one end, and connected wit-h thesteering head or socket at the other, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a rear-driving veloeipede, mounting the saddle on a rocking leverpivoted in the rear of the center 011 which the steering wheel or wheelsturn, and connecting it with the said center, so that the saddle andsteering wheel or wheels deflect together, toward the same side of themachine in the act of steering, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a rear-driving velocipede, the eornbithe steering-wheel D, therocking lever E, pivnation, with the steering wheel or wheels oted on apin, b, or its equivalent,n1ounted on mounted in a fork or itsequivalent pivoted the frame B,carrying the driving wheel A, the to themain frame of the machine by the usual seat-pillar e, mounted on therear end of the 5 head or socket and prolonged upward to carry rockinglever E, and the handle-bar F, fixed a transverse handle-bar, of arocking lever to the frame B, all combined, arranged, and pivoted on themain frame of the machine in operating as and for the purpose set forth.the rear of the head or socket on which the In witness whereof I havehereunto signed steering wheel or wheels turn, and carrying my name inthe presence of two subscribing IO the seat or saddle at the rear end,and conwitnesses.

nected with the steeriiw head or fork at the w i, 1 V 7 front end, asand for n53 purpose set forth. GEOIMGE JAMILS CHAPMAN 4. In arear-driving velocipede, the combi- Witnesses: nation of the arm orlever 0, fixed to or for1nlloirr. ED. PHILLIPS, 15 ing part of the head0 of the fork O, carrying ARTHUR ill. FLAOK.

